tagged w/ Father Christmas
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We all think of Santa as "Jolly ole St. Nick." But who knew that he has a dark hidden past that's very un-jolly? This short film uncovers and explores Santa's flirtation with politics and ...We all think of Santa as "Jolly ole St. Nick." But who knew that he has a... more
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This fascinating video, filmed and presented in the grand tradition of a National Geographic documentary, reveals what happens when an original Father Christmas, Hoho joulusta, goes on a rampage after being treated badly by humans.This fascinating video, filmed and presented in the grand tradition of a National... more
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A mystery Santa has left hundreds of toys hanging on trees in a coastal park over the last few weeks.
Rangers working at the Millennium Coastal Park in Llanelli having been making the surprise discovers on an almost daily basis.
They are completely baffled as to the motive behind the gifts.
This week they spotted a "middle-aged balding man" placing toys among some branches but he ran away across a golf course as they gave chase.
The toys vary from giveaway gifts handed out with McDonald meals to fluffy teddies to toy trains and tracks.
They have been discovered by rangers, walkers and cyclists over a four mile stretch of the park running from Llanelli to Pembrey.
The first batch appeared in October but park mangers say they have been appearing in greater numbers and with greater frequency in recent weeks.
A sack full was collected on Monday alone.A mystery Santa has left hundreds of toys hanging on trees in a coastal park over the... more
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This fascinating video, filmed and presented in the grand tradition of a National Geographic documentary, follows three Finnish hunters through the far northern woods of Lapland as they track, hunt and train an original Father Christmas, Hoho joulusta, for export to other countries.This fascinating video, filmed and presented in the grand tradition of a National... more
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China's freezing northern city of Harbin is building what organisers say is the world's largest Santa Claus ice sculpture.
The giant Father Christmas, 160 metres (525 ft) long and 24 metres high, centres on an enormous face of Father Christmas, complete with flowing beard and hat.
Its huge size and unseasonably warm temperatures have made the job especially challenging, said Tang Guangjun, one of the sculptors.
"It is even bigger and higher than last year's, and more difficult. The weather swings between warm and cold, so it becomes very wet and slippery on the ice. It is very dangerous for us," he told Reuters Television.
Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province on the edge of Siberia, is one of China's coldest places. Winter temperatures can drop to below minus 35 degrees Celsius (- 31 F).
Every year the city plays host to a world-renowned ice festival. But the effects of global warming are taking a toll as the snow and ice now melt more rapidly than in the past.
Organisers said they had to artificially make snow for the Santa Claus sculpture.
Still, the sculpture has attracted thousands of tourists from all over the country who want to enjoy a white Christmas despite worries over the economic downturn.
Many said such tourism could help to boost the economy.
"It can stimulate the economy and consumption. When people feel happier, they will want to spend more, so it will lift the economy of the city and even the country," said Li Qingsheng, a tourist from Beijing.
Officials in Harbin remained optimistic about the tourist outlook for the winter.
An estimated 800,000 tourists, 90 per cent of them Chinese, were expected to visit the ice festival, said Jia Yan, director of the local tourism bureau.
The festival traditionally runs from mid-December to early February.China's freezing northern city of Harbin is building what organisers say is the... more
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Known around the world for his red face, rotund physique and penchant for whisky, brandy, beer and any other kind of liquor left out for him on Christmas Eve, it’s perhaps no surprise that Mr Claus has been caught drunk in charge of his reindeer, and some media commentators have been asking why it’s taken so long.Known around the world for his red face, rotund physique and penchant for whisky,... more
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A new world record has been set for the most santas congregated in one place. More than 14,200 santas paraded through the streets of Porto, in Portugal to raise money for charity, sining songs and dancing through the rain and cold. To go with the spirit of santa's gift-giving, every Pai Natal (as he is known in Portugal) also donated 1 euro to buy presents for the needy children in Porto, to which the general fundraising also contributed.
The last world record for the largest gathering of Santas was set last year Northern Ireland, where 12,965 people took part, dressed either as Santa or as Santa's helpers.A new world record has been set for the most santas congregated in one place. More... more
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Ho ho ho! How about chip and PIN?
The Salvation Army in parts of the US have finally made Santa catch up with capitalism, loading them up with credit card readers that can suck donations directly from your card, so there's no excuse for not having any change. Oh, and of course, minimum donation is $5.
It may be for a good cause and all, but I think the Christmas Spirit just died a little more in my heart.. bah hunbug.Ho ho ho! How about chip and PIN?
The Salvation Army in parts of the US have... more
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Well, I presume so anyway...
The Canadian postal authorities are trying to capture a 'rogue elf' whose responses to children's letters to Santa have been leaving everyone a closer shade to Rudolph's nose.
Thousands of children in Canada address their Christmas wishlists to a special address for Santa Claus, which has a festive H0H 0H0 postcode, it's just this year, it seems a few have been getting responses that a lot wouldn't expect in a letter to an adult let alone their impressionable kids.
Responses included one that called a kid a 'bitch' as well as "another which read: "This letter is too long, you dumb s***.""
Still. maybe that's how they speak in Nursery school nowadays...Well, I presume so anyway...
The Canadian postal authorities are trying to capture... more
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